Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen, Passaic) said he didn't understand how the county could hire Demarest's police officers, which cost Demarest $3.1 million a year, while only charging Demarest $2.7 million. And Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen, Passaic) said he could see how the merger would benefit Demarest, but was less clear on how the rest of the county would gain.

The fight over a couple's two 100-pound dogs, confiscated by animal-control officials because they've been deemed a threat to neighbors, continued in Jefferson Township. NJ.com's Brendan Kuty reports that the owners, Gary and Susan Kolb, are trying to have them moved from the Andover pound.

Budget talks continue the tedium

The spin continues, so we'll be brief: Democrats blast Republicans. GOP eviscerates the left. Rinse and repeat. Here are the latest to prove the point: